Larissa Ione's Blog, page 3

Dire Needs Winners

Thanks to everyone who entered to win Stephanie Tyler's Dire Needs ARCs!

Congrats to winners:

Michelle, comment #8

Camille, comment #12

Alina, comment #69

Winners, please email Stephanie at steph@stephanietyler.com with your mailing address, or use the contact form here: http://stephanietyler.com/contact.php

Thanks again, and have a great weekend!!!

Dire Needs Giveaway!

Hey everyone!

I have a giveaway today — 3 ARCs (advance review copies) of Stephanie Tyler's new paranormal romance, Dire Needs!

The full moon is their mistress. They are predators of pleasure and pain. Feared by humans, envied by werewolves, the Dire Wolves are immortal shifters, obeying no laws but their own bestial natures. Once they were many, but now only six remain, a dangerous wolfpack forever on the hunt…

Rifter leads the pack, embracing the lifestyle and ethics of an outlaw biker even as he battles an ancient enemy who has become a new, powerful force. But with his Brother Wolf raging inside him, howling to be unleashed, he needs to satisfy his hungers. And when he meets a drop-dead gorgeous blonde drinking alone in a bar that caters to both human and inhuman, Rifter's primal instinct is to claim her.

Gwen has her own desires, long unfulfilled. She hopes a passionate night with the leather-clad, Harley-riding biker will ease her suffering. The seizures that have wracked her body her entire life are incurable—and they're killing her.

But none of that will matter if Rifter can't stop the growing threat to them all — trappers who are determined to enslave humankind and use the Dire wolves as part of their nefarious plan.

So…like werewolves? Uber-alpha yummy males? Strange character names? (Oh, come on, if you've read Stephanie before, or Sydney Croft, or um, me, then you're experienced with the weird names!) Then, yo, you want to read this series!

(As a small aside, isn't that about the most awesome cover EVER????)

Okay, for a chance to win, just leave a comment telling me and Steph what you're reading right now.

Winners announced Friday at noon CST, so be sure to check back!

New Covers!

I know, I know…I haven't posted in FOREVER. I've been under CRAZY deadlines…copyedits and galleys for Lethal Rider, finishing up Rogue Rider, putting together an LOD compendium, and getting ready for upcoming conferences. Eek!

But I do have two new covers to share with you! The first is for the German translation of Eternal Rider, which releases in Germany in June. I love it. The colors and haunting background are amazing!

The second is the UK version of Rogue Rider, which will release at the same time as the US version (don't have a cover for the US one yet.) We're looking at either a December or January release. I love this cover, with Reseph's white horse, his bow, and his yummy, rugged look!

Also, I finally started up a Pinterest account! If you're curious about how I see some of the characters, settings, UGH's floorplan, etc., you can check out my research/inspiration board here: http://pinterest.com/larissaione/novel-inspiration-research/

Okay, that's all for today. Once I get out from under these deadlines, I'll be back! Hope you are all doing good!

Hugs!!!

If You Want Something To Do…

Do you love to read? Do you want to write? Are you already published and looking to further your career in publishing? Then join us for the Liberty States Fiction Writers 3rd Annual Create Something Magical Conference being held on Saturday March 17th 2012 featuring New York Times Best Selling Author Larissa Ione as the Keynote Speaker.

The LSFW's Create Something Magical Conference is the perfect place for writers and readers to share and enjoy their love of books as well as mingle in an after-conference party!

Writers at any stage of their career from Pre-Published to Best Seller will have a choice of a variety of workshops, Editor and Agent Pitch Appointments, lunch with Keynote Speaker Larissa Ione, a Networking Reception as well as the after-conference party which are all part of the Writers' Track. Published authors in the Writers' Track will also be able to participate in a book fair that is open to the general public.

Readers can take advantage of this marvelous opportunity to meet and greet some of their favorite authors as part of the Create Something Magical Conference Readers' Track.

• Participate in a variety of discussion panels that will enable you to get an inside look at the creation of some of your favorite books and what's happening in the various genres

• Go home loaded with goodies and swag as well as a number of free books

• Sip a libation and snack on dessert while enjoying readings from some fabulous novels at a special edition of Lady Jane's Salon

• Check off some of those books on your to buy list at our multi-author book signing

• Dance & snack the night away with some of your favorite authors at the after-conference party

Our workshop presenters this year include a number of NY Times and USA Today bestsellers, up-and-coming authors and bloggers, such as Jonathan Maberry, Caridad Pineiro, Virginia Kantra, Terry Kate, Sarah MacLean, Jenna Kernan, Maria V. Snyder, Leanna Renee Hieber, Katharine Ashe, Tere Michaels, Ally Blue, Shelley Noble, Lisa Dale, Lisa Verge Higgins, Maya Rodale, Hope Tarr and more!

All who register before February 1st are eligible to win a Sony e-Reader and get early-bird pricing. Non-Member Writers' Track registration is $120. Readers' Track registration is $40 ($55 with the lunch option).

For more information or to register for the conference visit: http://www.libertystatesfictionwriters.com/conference.

We hope to see you there!

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Also, I'll be at Barbara Vey's Reader Appreciation Luncheon on April 10th, in Milwaukee — you can sign up to sit at your favorite author's table! There's only one seat left at my table, so if you want it, now's the time to grab it!

For more information, click here: Barbara Vey's Reader Appreciation Luncheon

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And, for those who have asked, I'll be attending the Romantic Times Convention in Chicago from April 11th to April 15th. There will be a public signing on Saturday the 14th. For more information, click here. Hope to see you there!

Favorite Things 2011

Every year I think back over the new things I fell in love with over the previous twelve months. Past lists have included butter bells, Droid cell phone, floor steam cleaners, and UGGs. Here are the things I loved in 2011:

iPad — I held off getting one of these expensive buggers for a long time. But dang…I LOVE this thing! It's so versatile, and it doubles as an e-reader for my son. I have a Kindle, but I don't really want him using it, since I have, er, adult books on it. I also bought the little portable keyboard to go with it, so in a pinch, I can write on my iPad. Love!

Haflinger Slippers — these might not be the most attractive things on the planet, but they are SO comfortable and warm. They mold to your foot and fit like a glove. I adore these slippers.

Lip Fusion XL — Yeah, this stuff is EXPENSIVE. I happened to get a few bottles when Sephora had a closeout sale, so they were ridiculously cheap. But boy, this stuff works to plump up your lips, and the plumping effect lasts. For days. You use it at night, and it moisturizes and exfoliates like nothing I've every used. I wouldn't pay full price for it, but you can find sales sometimes, and some good deals especially on trial sizes (which should last a month) on Ebay.

Furminator — For those who follow me on my blog, Twitter, or Facebook, you know that this year we got a puppy. She's a long-haired King Shepherd with one hell of an undercoat. We got regular brushes for her, but people kept saying to try the Furminator. I was skeptical. I mean, those things are expensive for a brush. Yeah…call me a convert. The Furminator absolutely works and is totally worth the money. Even after a thorough brushing with a regular brush, I can run the Furminator over Hexe, and in ONE STROKE, I have a handful of undercoat. A good, all over brushing will get me enough fur to make a large cat. Amazing product.

FitFlop Pietra Flip Flop — I bought these fit flops because I needed something comfortable to wear while walking around New York City last summer, and I'd heard these were great. Um…yeah. They are beyond great. The most comfortable flip flops I've ever owned, with the added benefit of toning your legs. Okay, not so sure about the toning, but I will say that after walking in them, I do feel it in my upper legs and butt. My feet have a tendency to hurt after only a little walking, but they NEVER hurt in these. I especially like this design because it's narrower than the other FitFlop designs, and I have narrow feet. The only issue is that the leather on top can rub on the top of the toes, but I solved that by working the leather a little until it was soft. No issues after that.

Waffle Maker — I love this little sucker! I make waffles for my son for breakfast, and this particular maker is nice because it stores upright, so it has a small footprint on the counter. No having to find a place to put it after using it or having it take up a ton of room in the kitchen. Makes nice Belgian waffles too! Yum!

Okay, that's all I can think of for this year. Is there anything you loved this year that you can share?

Eternal Rider Sale!

I'm slinking out of the deadline cave for a quick announcement: Last week, Sin Undone was on sale, and this week, it's Eternal Rider!

Until December 26th, Eternal Rider (in ebook format) can be purchased at a HUGE discount at U.S. retailers.

So if you haven't picked it up for your e-reader, now's your chance to get it for $1.99. Here's the Kindle link and Nook link.

Even if you don't have an ereader, you can download several different apps for your computer or cell phone that will allow you to read ebooks, so you don't have to miss out on this special price (or on other books with awesome special pricing or ebook exclusives.)

Now, back to deadline hell!

Author Moments II

Hey everyone!

A little while ago I was asked to participate in a charity anthology that's a bit different (for me.) Instead of short stories, this anthology was to contain writerly advice.

Er…it's funny, because when it comes to fiction, I can usually get something going in my head. But advice? That's hard. Not only is it non-fiction, but I don't feel like I am in any position to give advice.

Yes, I'm published, but honestly, sometimes I feel like it was just luck that got me here. I still feel like I'm flailing half the time. There are all these rules I'm supposed to follow but don't, I never write a book the same way twice, I'm not really a plotter, but I'm not a pantser…basically, I'm a mess.

But somehow, I managed to come up with a sliver of wisdom for this anthology, which I'm so proud to be a part of. I'm sharing the pages with some really amazing authors who dole out smart advice and wonderfully inspiring stories.

So if you're an aspiring author or you're already published, or even if you have no inclination to write at all, you might find insight into the minds of your favorite authors interesting. And you'll be supporting cancer research at the same time.

Harry Moseley, the boy who raised over £500,000 for Cancer Research UK, is no longer with us – but his legacy lives on.

"Britain's Kindest Kid", Harry was more than a nice kid with a big heart; he was a real life hero. A hero with an inoperable brain tumor who tragically lost his battle with cancer at the much-too-young age of 11.

Harry's, "Help Harry Help Others" campaign continues his fundraising work in hopes that one day soon, there will be a cure for brain tumors. Joining Harry's quest for research funds are an amazing group of romance writers, along with a wonderful cover artist, who have put together an inspiring anthology to raise money for Cancer Research UK, in memory of Harry Moseley.

"Author Moments II" is a collection of essays written by these talented writers. From the New York Times bestselling lists to the writer who is just beginning their quest, you will find this anthology filled with generous writing advice and anecdotes. It won't matter where you are on your road to publication or even in your life journey, Author Moments II will fill you with love, laughter and a renewed hope that all things are possible when you care enough to come together and make a difference.

Like real life hero, Harry Moseley.

The Authors Helping Harry invite you to pitch in with them to help find a cure simply by purchasing a copy of this wonderful anthology.

*As a bonus, each author has included an excerpt from one of their current, or upcoming, releases.

You can buy Author Moments II at Amazon in Kindle format here or at Smashwords in all formats here.

One Day Sin Undone Ebook Sale!

Okay, so the title of this blog post is a little misleading. Sin Undone was actually on sale for $2.99 at some US retailers yesterday, but something went wacky with the promotion, and not all retailers lowered the price like they'd agreed to.

So today, now those retailers are on board. The others…some have changed the price back, and some are still selling it for $2.99.

Anyway, today only (probably,) Amazon is selling Sin Undone in Kindle format for only $2.99! Yay!

You might also be able to find it at Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iBooks, and Sony for that price. I say "might" because since they sold it for the reduced price yesterday, they might not have gotten the extension note. If the ebook is regular price anywhere, there's a good chance it'll change later today.

How's that for being clear as mud?

Hope you've all had a great start to December! I'm in deadline hell, so won't be around much, but have a wonderful week!

Thank You!!!

Today was release day for Immortal Rider in the UK! I'm thrilled to have my books on the shelves over there! I've made no secret of the fact that I'd live in the UK if I could, so…YAY!

On this side of the pond, Immortal Rider released last week, and this week my US readers gave me an early Christmas present — they put Immortal Rider on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists!!! I can't thank you enough!!!!

I had a really great release week (with one exception I'll tell you about in a minute,) between awesome reviews, bestseller lists, and an appearance in A Klingon Christmas Carol. Folks, if you haven't seen A Klingon Christmas Carol, I urge you to do it if you can. Even my mom, who isn't a Star Trek fan, LOVED it. I got to play a Klingon in a fun scene, and I even had a line — in Klingon! It was AWESOME. And yeah, this is me as a Klingon (makeup and costume wasn't quite finished yet. I'll share more pics later!)

Now for the exception to my great week I mentioned above.

Okay, so remember Hexe, our new puppy? Well, I'm SUPER picky about what I feed her, from her regular food to her treats. She gets nothing that isn't all natural, no grains, and has to be made in the US. I learned my lesson with a diabetic cat that a pet's health can truly suffer from diet (I even have an entire section on my website dedicated to feline nutrition.)

So anyway, Hexe got a treat that was supposedly made from quality, all natural ingredients. And ingredients I THOUGHT came from the US. Turns out, the chicken used in the treats was from China. The FDA has issued a warning about chicken treats made in China (which includes the chicken wrapped veggies and fruits that are so popular.)

I gave Hexe ONE teeny Waggin Train treat, and an hour later, she was vomiting. She vomited nonstop all day, all night, and into the morning the next day. She was horribly sick, so I rushed her to the vet. Turns out that another dog was there with the same problem…same brand of treats.

Hexe is doing better now, but it was scary. She's still on meds and needs tests to make sure her kidneys are okay. And don't think that if you've been feeding your pets these treats for months or years that they must be fine — apparently, the effects of whatever is in these treats can be cumulative, resulting in renal failure and other problems WAY too early in a pet's life.

PLEASE heed the FDA warning and don't feed treats imported from China. It's scary stuff, and it's real. My vet bill will attest to that. It's way cheaper to throw out the treats than to pay vet bills.

Okay, so scary stuff aside, it's been a good week, and I want to thank everyone who has bought Immortal Rider. Your support means so much — and it's the reason I keep writing!

(((HUGS!!!)))

Lara and Larissa's Tote-o-Rama Giveaway!

As fate (and publishing schedules) would have it, we both have new releases in the next couple weeks – Larissa Ione's IMMORTAL RIDER on November 22, and Lara Adrian's A TASTE OF MIDNIGHT (ebook novella) on December 5. Since we've never had releases this close together before, we're celebrating! And we'd like to invite YOU to help us celebrate and spread the word too! Of course, no party is complete without a cool giveaway, so we've rounded up some autographed books and fun series merchandise for you to win. Here's how it works:

Four chances to win an autographed totebag full of good stuff!

Visit Larissa Ione's Facebook page. Click the LIKE button (if you haven't already). Find her Note with this contest announcement and SHARE it on your Facebook page. Be sure to add a comment to Larissa's Note, letting her know you've shared the link so she can make sure you're entered for the contest. Then, on November 22, 2011 – release day for IMMORTAL RIDER! – Larissa will draw one random winner from the eligible entries.

Visit Lara Adrian's Midnight Breed Series Facebook page. Click the LIKE button (if you haven't already). Find her Note with this contest announcement and SHARE it on your Facebook page. Be sure to add a comment to Lara's Note, letting her know you've shared the link so she can make sure you're entered for the contest. Then, on December 5, 2011 – release day for A TASTE OF MIDNIGHT! – Lara will draw one random winner from the eligible entries.

Sign up for Larissa's website newsletter (if you're not already subscribed). On December 1, 2011, Larissa will draw one random winner from all active subscribers of her newsletter.

Sign up for Lara's website newsletter (if you're not already subscribed). On December 5, 2011, Lara will draw one random winner from all active subscribers of her newsletter.

Note: Picture shows two totebags to show both sides of the totes. Prize is for ONE double-sided totebag autographed by both authors and is filled with items shown plus extras including signed copies of Lara Adrian's DEEPER THAN MIDNIGHT and KISS OF MIDNIGHT.

This contest is open to both US and international entries, but void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. One entry per person. Winners will be notified on Facebook and via author newsletter. If winner does not respond with mailing address within thirty (30) days of notification, another winner will be selected by random drawing for the unclaimed prize. Good luck to everyone!